Miskatonic University Podcast

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan welcome bestselling creator, Mav Haenze, back onto the show to explore ways that mental health, sanity and madness are used and misused in horror gaming, and ways that Keepers, players and writers can use them in the future to maximize the fun and the horror! Patreon Plug & Update Dear listeners! We have a patreon. Our patreon is how we pay our editors, our hosts, our editing software, the podcast hosting service, the podcast recording service, spam filters, and more. I know that we don’t like to discuss money, but it costs money to keep this show alive.  Our Patreons literally keep the lights on and make this show possible. So if you love this content, and you want to keep it alive, we ask that you visit patreon.com/MUP and subscribe to be a backer.  And if financial support isn’t in the cards right now, you can spread the good word of MUP in your communities by sharing a link and heaping glowing praise upon us where others can see. And furthermore, you can hang out with us on Discord! The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor NATE for editing this episode.  Main Topic Tonight, we bring you PART TWO of March Madness, which is legally and ontologically distinct from any kind of sporting event you may be aware of. What did we do in Part 1? In Part 1, we talked about ways that mental health, illness and trauma can be used and misused in horror gaming, with some expert advice from our friend Perry Clark. Now that we’ve set a baseline on the role mental health and sanity in general can play in gaming, it’s time to get into the game mechanics! And as we mentioned, we are joined today by the extra-fantastic Maverick Haenze, beloved friend of the show. Can you tell folks where they may know you from, and what expertise you’re bringing to the conversation? So: Let’s dive in to our discussion. Where have mental health and sanity mechanics been, where are they now, and where might they be going in the glorious future? Bridgett, can you kick us off? Do you have a favorite sanity or sanity-adjacent mechanic right now? {For reference or review, some notable games with sanity/madness/mental health mechanics: Call of Cthulhu, 1981, seems to have introduced the Sanity mechanic Experiencing horrors leads to a “bout of madness” and then, potentially, long-term effects such as phobias/manias More recently – players/Keepers can select long-term effects, and writers like Mav are introducing custom bout of madness tables in line with the story Unknown Armies – get hardened by violence/horror, at a cost Stress mechanics Delta Green’s Sanity; can burn connections to people (“bonds”) to cut down on stress; fight/flee/freeze as temp effects Trail of Cthulhu/Fall of Delta Green splits up into two tracks, Stability and Sanity – Stability is more like stress/mundane effects Alien has stress dice/panic rolls Blades in the Dark – vices which burn off your stress points Note that these systems all represent a particular narrative worldview about how to deal with your stress and trauma! Madness (more operatic/literary, less representative of real-world issues) Trail of Cthulhu’s Sanity – affected mostly by exposure to mythos/unnatural Vampire’s humanity/hunger Metafictional effects: Fear Itself (secret instructions to GM/players) Keeper tricks at the table (describing mundane humans as horrible monsters)} Topics: Favorite current mechanics What supports realistic play? What is more fantastic/genre-leaning? Things to be avoided (e.g. some people don’t like the old-school random sanity effects) Things you recommend – what are effective, fun, supportive for Keepers/players? Connect with Mav! Name: Mav Haenze Pronouns: They/Them Mav is a prolific writer, Storyteller, and verbal purveyor of horror. Their AP work and scenarios can be found at https://linktr.ee/mavhaenze Homework What new mechanics or approaches will you try in your upcoming games? Do you mix and match approaches from different games at your table?

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan welcome Licensed Family Therapist and gamer, Perry Clark, back onto the show to explore ways that mental health, sanity and madness are used and misused in horror gaming, and ways that Keepers, players and writers can use them in the future to maximize the fun and the horror! Patreon Plug & Update Dear listeners! We have patreon. Our patreon is how we pay our editors, our hosts, our editing software, the podcast hosting service, the podcast recording service, spam filters, and more. I know that we don’t like to discuss money, but it costs money to keep this show alive.  Our Patreons literally keep the lights on and make this show possible. So if you love this content, and you want to keep it alive, we ask that you visit patreon.com/MUP and subscribe to be a backer.  And if financial support isn’t in the cards right now, you can spread the good word of MUP in your communities by sharing a link and heaping glowing praise upon us where others can see. And furthermore, you can hang out with us on Discord! {New Patreon backer: DoctorSlaphammer} The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D And thank you to our editor GENE for editing this episode.  Bridgett’s Pet Pick Shout Out Friend of the show, Rach, swears that this cat, Goose, likes his lovely veil.  Listen. I’m not so sure. But I don’t speak cat! And the veil is dope.  Also. Where are my pet pics?! Main Topic March Madness is an exploration of the ways that mental health, sanity and madness are used and misused in horror gaming, and ways that Keepers, players and writers can use them in the future to maximize the fun and the horror. Connect with Perry Clark! https://linktr.ee/pclarkugcandukpodcast

This episode, Keepers Bridgett & Evan are joined by special guest, Pippa Walton, intimacy choreographer and coach! Tonight we’re going to discuss sex in horror gaming. We’ll unpack topics such as why people may want to engage with sex in gaming, why sex and horror compliment each other so well, how to handle consent, what the experience may look like and more! Recent Gaming Recent Gaming is where we talk about the games we’re playing. This episode was recorded 2/25/2026. So whatcha been playing? Patreon Plug & Update Dear listeners! We have patreon. Our patreon is how we pay our editors, our hosts, our editing software, the podcast hosting service, the podcast recording service, spam filters, and more. I know that we don’t like to discuss money, but it costs money to keep this show alive.  Our Patreons literally keep the lights on and make this show possible. So if you love this content, and you want to keep it alive, we ask that you visit patreon.com/MUP and subscribe to be a backer.  And if financial support isn’t in the cards right now, you can spread the good word of MUP in your communities by sharing a link and heaping glowing praise upon us where others can see. And furthermore, you can hang out with us on Discord! The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Ben for editing this episode.  Main Topic Welcome to the Main Topic everyone! Tonight, we’re going to discuss sex in horror roleplaying games. We’re going to approach this topic with respect, curiosity, awareness, and sensitivity. That being said, we’re about to discuss how to introduce and navigate sex in gaming spaces. This content will not be explicit in nature, but we’re not going to run from it. So if this content isn’t your cup of tea, there are 343 other episodes to enjoy, and more incoming! Questions: Why would people want to explore sex in gaming?  Why does sex and horror go so well together? What does sex in role-playing games look like?  Personal experiences  How can it be handled safely and respectfully? Tools and perspectives to be mindful of.  Ways to introduce sex and have fun with it!  What role can sex have, any particular advantages/disadvantages, thematic elements that are fun to explore, things like that? Resources, books, games, workshops, etc., to review for homework. Special Guest Spotlight Pippa Walton (she/her) has been involved in live performance through theatre since her first stage management job in 2015, and her work in the scene has spread into multiple mediums and expanded to include directing and intimacy coordination. Live action role play has become a treasured space where she uses her background in intimacy and fight work to help tell higher stakes stories with different kinds of emotional investment, and has been one of the most rewarding applications of her work. Her passions include gender-based analysis of theatrical practice, adapting her intimacy and consent practices for Live Action Role Play, being entirely too enthusiastic about musicals, and doing everything in her power to make theatre an equitable, comfortable, and uplifting space for the people around her. Her favourite video game to play is Stardew Valley, which can be considered horror media if you check how many hours she’s logged. Homework Does sex have a place in your tabletop roleplaying? Yes, no, maybe?

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan discuss Scott Dorward and all the ways that he’s ruined us emotionally. Join us as we celebrate Scott’s writing, storytelling, and the many ways that he supports the gaming community!  Patreon Plug & Update We have a patreon!! If you would like to support the podcast and engage with other backers, please consider backing. If you’re already a backer, please take a look at the various tiers and consider moving to the next level up.  Our new benefits include regular content exclusive to our backers. And if you don’t have money to contribute, please like and review us on Spotify or Apple podcasts. They really help.  So yes – please back us on Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone who has chosen to back us. We’re so thankful for all of you. Who we regularly see on… The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Equinox for editing this episode.  Bridgett’s Pet Pick Shout Out Undead Domain’s cat, sitting in a custom-made box full of toys, very intentionally sleeping and not engaging at all with the toys. Very catlike! Main Topic Tonight we want to talk about Scott Dorward. The writer, the podcaster, the legend… and all the ways that he’s ruined us.  Lamp Posts in Bloom on Ain’t Slayed Nobody https://www.aintslayednobody.com/episodes/lamp-posts-in-bloom-unknown-armies-becca-scott Cthulhu Dark Fairyland Part 1 — Ain’t Slayed Nobody – Call of Cthulhu Podcast  https://share.google/Jdi30tTLk0r36wolH Fairyland Scenario https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/426490/fairyland Murder Shack Ain’t Slayed Nobody  https://pca.st/episode/a4324459-6603-4291-aeef-c30c5c1bd4d2 Unland  https://pca.st/episode/524d3f47-8254-48db-ba34-1bea7b9c539c Sky Symphony Sonata https://youtu.be/xnUlacQAMRM?si=AfBJk3MtUPR08meD The Things We Leave Behind – An Anthology of Modern Day Call of Cthulhu Scenarios – Stygian Fox | Call of Cthulhu: Modern Era | DriveThruRPG https://share.google/LMZSGO74vJqWsqiIK Homework Tell us in the episode channel how Scott Dorward has ruined you emotionally. Tag him. Make it weird. 

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan tackle gaming topics in our Miskatonic Debate Club (booth)! Part 2/2. Patreon Plug & Update Hey guys! Here is your friendly and loving reminder that MUP has a Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone has chosen to back and support us! You guys keep the lights on around here and we’re so thankful for all of you.  Backers helped cultivate this very episode. The Discord Plug That’s right! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Nate for editing this episode.  Main Topic Welcome everyone to our reoccurring segment, the Miskatonic University Debate Club! During this segment, we’ve polled our patreon backers for topics that the hosts will argue to the best of our ability. The goal here is to demonstrate healthy argumentation, to have fun, to stretch our own debate skills, and most importantly to share valid perspectives to opposing topics in our industry!  Classic versus Original Monsters Roll mitigations Dice verus gimmicks

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan tackle gaming topics in our Miskatonic Debate Club (booth)! Part 1/2. Patreon Plug & Update Hey guys! Here is your friendly and loving reminder that MUP has a Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone has chosen to back and support us! You guys keep the lights on around here and we’re so thankful for all of you.  Backers helped cultivate this very episode. The Discord Plug That’s right! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Gene for editing this episode.  Bridgett’s Pet Pick Shout Out New arrival and fan of the show Christine Fisher just shared an adorable cat, fast asleep near a window, with the following caption: This is Anna Mae, celebrating the warmth of every new day. And I just really appreciate the beauty and the simplicity of, “celebrating the warmth of a new day.”  Enjoy Anna Mae! And thank you for the reminder.  Main Topic Welcome everyone to our reOccurring segment, the Miskatonic University Debate Club! During this segment, we’ve polled our patreon backers for topics that the hosts will argue to the best of our ability. The goal here is to demonstrate healthy argumentation, to have fun, to stretch our own debate skills, and most importantly to share valid perspectives to opposing topics in our industry!  Conflict resolution – mediation narrative or hard rolled mechanics! Online conventions or in-person conventions  GM screen or no GM screen Pulp versus Classic Style Horror

This episode, Keeper Bridgett welcomes Keeper Evan Perlman as new host on MUP! Let’s introduce Evan and explore some of this favorite things to discuss in gaming and inform our listeners of future content! Recent Gaming Recent Gaming is where we talk about the games we’re playing. So whatcha been playing? Patreon Plug & Update Hey listeners! Did you know that money can be exchanged for goods and services? And one of those goods… or services… is this very podcast?  This podcast is not just a good service, it’s a great service to the horror gaming community, and I have been a Patreon backer for a long, long time. The best way to get more of something you love is to support it, so guys, head over to patreon.com/MUP or click the patreon icon on the sidebar of our website. If you’re able to support us, we’d appreciate it! Patreon, we offer everything from exclusive backer only bonus content, Patreon only episodes, backer only hangouts, access to our backer only portal on Discord, and more! And if financial support isn’t in the cards right now, you can spread the good word of MUP in your communities by sharing a link and heaping glowing praise upon us where others can see. And furthermore, you can hang out with us on Discord! The Discord Plug We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Ben for editing this episode.  Now it’s time for! Main Topic From Evan– Friends, fellow horror roleplaying gamers, it is an honor and a pleasure to join this podcast. I’d like to humbly introduce myself to you by talking with Bridgett about some of the horror gaming topics that I’m really interested in, or things that I find myself thinking about a lot. I have a lot of interests and I think all of these could probably be longer topics, maybe shows of their own, but let’s do some quick hits and just skim the surface of them now. Call it an Evan Perlman Sampler Platter. Getting Inspiration from Media Aiming for specific emotional beats at the table Trying new things in scenarios Making friends and collaborative partners Eat the Reich Actual Play as mentioned in Recent Gaming https://youtu.be/qJrfTdVS-w4?si=_la3QIh18-3YT16P https://youtu.be/a25yb7eQEJ0?si=iluLd__qyJqDjdoS

This episode, Keeper Murph returns with Keeper Bridgett to wish Keeper Dave a happy retirement from podcasting! Patreon Plug & Update If you would like to support the podcast and engage with other backers, please consider backing.  So yes – please back us on Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone who backed us and contributed to our longevity. We’re so thankful for all of you. Who we regularly see on… The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Equinox for editing this episode. Main Topic How has our hobby and community changed since 2020?

This episode, Keepers Dave and Bridgett interview Gregory Geiger to discuss accessibility in game design. Recent Gaming – Patreon Plug & Update If you would like to support the podcast and engage with other backers, please consider backing.  So yes – please back us on Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone who backed us and contributed to our longevity. We’re so thankful for all of you. Who we regularly see on… The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Nate for editing this episode.  Bridgett’s Pet Pick Shout Out The Pet Pic channel is a community onto itself. On this channel, we post our beloved pets, fosters, pets of family members, and even wildlife shouting “go pods.” These animals, these pets, are members of our collective community. So when we lose a member of this community, one of our precious pets, we often grieve as a community. I’ve seen the recent pet loss guys. I just want you, and everyone who has ever lost, and will someday lose a pet to know, we’re here for you. We’re here for each other.  Main Topic Links and stuff GregoryGeiger.com  TryingToDoBetter.com  https://papress.com/products/extra-bold https://www.bispublishers.com/type-tricks-user-design.html https://www.uxdesigninstitute.com/blog/accessible_design-inclusive_design/

This episode, Keepers Dave & Bridgett discuss roleplaying as children with award winning creator, Jesse Ross! Recent Gaming Recent Gaming is where we talk about the games we’re playing. So whatcha been playing? Patreon Plug & Update If you would like to support the podcast and engage with other backers, please consider backing.  So yes – please back us on Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone who backed us and contributed to our longevity. We’re so thankful for all of you. Who we regularly see on… The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Gene for editing this episode. Main Topic Let’s discuss roleplaying as children with award winning creator, Jesse Ross! Trophy RPG Girl Underground – Hedgemaze Press | DriveThruRPG https://www.hedgemazepress.com/jesseross.com